By Dennis Brown

High winds last Wednesday afternoon and night resulted in widespread damage in Lewis County, coming on the heels of a winter storm that had somewhat similar results.

The winds were associated with a band of rain passing through the area and caused damage to trees, power lines and structures throughout the county.

All customers of the Vanceburg Utility System were without power from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning because the utility’s supplier, AEP, lost transmission to the connection with the local system near South Portsmouth.

Electric Plant Board Superintendent Eric Bloomfield said Vanceburg’s system also received damage as limbs, weakened by the earlier winter storm, and trees in water saturated soil came into contact with power lines. Workers re-energized the local system a section at a time and made necessary repairs as they went. Most residents living in the Vanceburg Utility service area had power restored by late Thursday morning.

Crews for Fleming-Mason Energy had also been called to make repairs in Lewis County, many of those in the same areas cleared only a week before following damage by the winter storm the last week of January.

Telephone service in the Vanceburg area was disrupted early Thursday morning, including cellular service and Internet connections. The Lewis County Board of Education had decided to cancel classes for Thursday, but was unable to easily spread the word through its usual variety of media outlets because of the communications outages. WKKS Radio remained on the air and was able to pass along closings and cancellations which could

 be personally delivered to the local station.

Thursday’s school closing brought to 16 the number of days missed because of weather this school year. Board members had already begun the process of making up missed days and will again look at the situation at the March meeting.

Several roofs and outbuildings sustained damage in Lewis County and a barn was downed on Briery Creek Road as a result of the gusting winds.

Patricia Martin said the barn was located near her home and the home of her father, Roscoe Bevins. She said the barn was built when Roscoe, age 83, was eight years old. There were no injuries and the homes didn’t sustain any major damage.

She said they had started to head for the basement as the winds picked up and she caught sight of the barn just as the wind tore off the top and the first tier collapsed. Some cows had gone into the barn to get out of the weather and a few were trapped inside after it collapsed.

Martin said they utilized chainsaws to free three cows and a calf which were not injured in the collapse. After the episode she said a double rainbow appeared over the family farm. The barn, she added, was a part of her childhood and will be missed.

“It sheltered many farm animals and provided income for my dad to feed his large family over the years,” she said. “We feel as if a part was taken from us when it fell.”

Martin said after the ordeal and seeing the rainbow, her five-year-old son said, “God saved us and our homes, Mommy.” She said her reply, with tear filled eyes, was, “Yes, I believe God did.”

The Lewis County Board of Education met in regular session last week and heard a presentation from the district’s technology department. The board also amended the school calendar to start making up for days missed because of weather

The board considered various options and chose one that tentatively sets the last day of school for students as Tuesday, June 9. To gain the three days, school was in session Presidents Day, February 16, and will also be in session March 19 and 20.

Lewis County Schools have cancelled classes 16 days so far this year, the majority of those during the winter storm that began January 25. Classes were cancelled one day last week following a wind storm. Board members will take up the matter again at the March school board meeting because they are waiting to see if proposed legislation passes that would allow for the required number of instructional days to be reduced. If the legislation does not pass in the Kentucky Legislature, the board will consider revising the scheduled spring break

The revised school calendar can be found to the school district’s web site at www.lewis.ky.schools.us.

Board members heard from Jason Hill and Greg McCane concerning recent technology updates in the classroom. During the presentation, the technology workers showed how new technology recently installed in the classrooms are helping the education process in Lewis County Schools.

The additions include interactive white boards, active boards and document cameras, which encourage student participation in classroom educational activities.

The board approved the use of the Middle School Gymnasium for the Turkey and Deer Expo scheduled for March 14. An addition to the expo this year will allow for vendors to display bows, guns and knives. Organizer Jeremy Ruckel said he estimates attendance this year to be about 2,500 and expects nearly 50 vendors. He said three seminars are also scheduled for the event.

Board members approved field trips for various groups and heard the superintendent’s report for classified and certified hires. Brian Box was hired as a full time bus driver while Jessica Hartley and Matthew Cook were named as recent certified hires.